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Oh my! A Jumpgate Evolution leak -- not really
Earlier today an unannounced video slipped onto YouTube claiming to be a "Jumpgate Evolution Play Test." The JGE forums lit up with speculation as to the source of the video, yet the true source was not even known to the JGE forum moderator, Alpha. In the thread regarding the leak, Alpha said, "I don't know where this video is from (or how old the footage is, or indeed anything about it), but really, given that the team is really small right now, the devs are going to know who shot that footage." She was correct, because just a few hours later, OhSnap (Kara Kroupa, Marketing Coordinator at NetDevil) replied with a detailed explanation of what exactly happened. According to OhSnap, the video "showed up on youtube first because I asked the emissaries to spread it around before I made the video announcement. With all intention to explain the details here later." Unfortunately, Alpha had not read the information regarding the video when she first replied to the post, so she treated it as a breach of the NDA. Fortunately, there was no real issue, and no damage was done save to Alpha's keyboard, which now has OJ sprayed on it from her laughing at finding out the "leak" was intentional. Now, after months of quiet, we have some Jumpgate Evolution footage! Take a look after the break at this "leaked" real footage of gameplay of the citadel. [Thank you, Notturno for the link to the video]
Lovefilm looks to be headed to UK PlayStation 3 consoles
You Americans may not have a clue what Lovefilm means to Britons, but in short, it's Netflix for the other side of the pond. To that end, we imagine quite a few UKers are giddy over a video that has since been pulled from Sony's YouTube channel. We've embedded it after the break in case it revives itself in some magical, mystical fashion, but Everything PlayStation managed to grab the copy from underneath while it was still alive. It's bruited that Lovefilm streaming will be coming to UK-based PS3 owners sometime this autumn, with a wealth of search options available and free trials promised for those who've yet to buy into the outfit's services. We're hoping to hear more from Sony (or Lovefilm) in short order, but for now, we'd encourage you to cross every finger you have that a dedicated disc won't be required for everything to work.
HTC HD7 leaks out once more with Dolby Sound, stars in a brief video
HTC may have stemmed the flood of HD7 activity, but details about the 4.3-inch Windows Phone 7 device keep leaking out. Today, an O2 Germany tipster blew off most of the remaining doors. We've got what appears to be a full spec sheet confirming a 1GHz processor, 8GB of storage and 5 megapixel camera but also detailing internal memory, a full complement of sensors, quad-band radio frequencies, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and more. There's also a few pictures sizing up the HD7 alongside a Galaxy S, a training slide for the hopefully-more-than-a-marketing-buzzword "Dolby Mobile Sound," and for what we believe is the very first time, a cameo appearance on video. Our tipster says it'll launch in Germany in just two weeks at €559 (about $770) or €79 ($109) on a two-year contract. Tempting, no? Video after the break. %Gallery-104129%
Samsung Captivate gets unofficial Froyo build, with Flash 10.1, mobile hotspot and more (video)
Now that your AT&T-locked Samsung Galaxy S can occasionally find satellites, you're probably hoping that the carrier kicks out some creamy Froyo as well, and it looks like that day isn't far away -- an unofficial but seemingly feature-complete Android 2.2 build is available for the Captivate right now. The faithful fiends at xda-developers have got build UCJI6 ready for download, which brings a mobile hotspot, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the JIT compiler, Media Hub support, and a host of UI tweaks to boot. Instructions are available at the links below to walk you through the process, assuming you've already got root, have backed up all your files and are willing to take the risks in case this leaked build isn't as official as it seems. See a video walkthrough of the new software right after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC Merge / Lexicon prototype previewed, 800MHz processor produces sweet scores (video)
Here's a little something to make your weekend fly by -- Android Central scored a hands-on look at Verizon's dual-mode CDMA / GSM worldphone, the HTC Merge (or is that Lexikon?) and it's looking like one hell of a handset. Though the prototype's Android 2.2 build is saddled with HTC Sense and Bing for search, the hardware's reportedly superb, with a "clicky and responsive and very well spaced" slide-out QWERTY keyboard with no Desire Z hinge nonsense, and a weighty, solid feel. There's also a 5 megapixel shooter that does 720p video, a likely 2GB of on-board storage and 512MB of RAM, not to mention an 800MHz processor that'll surely help derail the megahertz myth with superb benchmark scores. See it pull a 1,500 in Quadrant after the break, and start dropping those nickels into your piggy bank.
RadioShack to sell T-Mobile G2 'first' starting on October 3rd
If you were proactive enough to pre-order a T-Mobile G2, there's a better-than-average chance that your shiny new smartphone is already en route to your abode. For those who slept in, it looks as if RadioShack will be the go-to place if you're looking to snag one early from the retail universe. According to the badly formatted flyer pictured above, The Shack will be the first B&M location to stock the US version of the HTC Desire Z, and it'll be hawking 'em for $149.99 on a two-year postpaid contract starting October 3rd. Got that penciled into your little black book? Good. [Thanks, Anonymous]
AMD Radeon HD 6770 and 6750 spec sheets emerge, give NVIDIA cause for concern
Alright AMD, we still haven't forgiven you for burying the glorious name that was ATI, but if your next GPU refresh is as mighty as these numbers indicate, we might at least let you in from the doghouse. A slide detailing two flavors of the upcoming 40nm Barts chip has sprouted up from two independent sources online, and it shows some appreciable gains between generations. The new HD 67x0 cards appear manifestly speedier than their predecessors -- with faster clocks, more texture units, and more ROPs -- but the fun really gets going when you compare them to the HD 5870 and 5850, AMD's previous high-end cards. Memory bandwidth and pixel fillrate are identical between the HD 6750 and 5850, while the HD 6770 even manages to beat the formerly imperious 5870 in a couple of areas. Of course, this is all still unconfirmed information, but considering that Barts is only an "upper midrange" chip that's already stepping on the toes of last year's finest, we feel safe in expecting some pretty big things from the flagship Cayman silicon when it lands -- which will be soon if all these leaks and rumors are anything to go by. [Thanks, Vygantas]%Gallery-103368%
T-Mobile to bundle Wi-Fi Calling app with future Android devices?
Yesterday, we saw that LG's Optimus One might ship with WiFi calling, and that's all well and good, but a new leak suggests the Optimus was just the tip of a UMA iceberg to come. The above picture is one of several allegedly leaked training slides obtained by TmoNews, highlighting a dedicated "Wi-Fi Calling" app that may come pre-installed on upcoming Android devices, one of which just might be that new T-Mobile G2. Before you raid your piggybank in hopes of free VoIP calls, however, know that this app-ified brand of WiFi calling isn't necessarily the seamless switching solution we've wanted all along; that little yellow "limitations" tab reportedly explains that as soon as you leave the WiFi radius, you effectively drop your call.
Is this HTC Sense on Windows Phone 7? (update: and is this HTC's Hub?)
Whoa, Nelly! Just 24 hours after we caught wind of a leaked webOS 2.0 video, in flies this. If the "Confidential use only" watermark is accurate, the video embedded after the break is HTC's Sense overlay on Windows Phone 7. If you'll recall, we finally heard that Sense would indeed be hitting Microsoft's forthcoming mobile OS after all back in July, but we've yet to see any real indication of what the end product would look like. Until now, of course. With "the holidays" rapidly approaching and Redmond holding funerals for rival operating systems, there's a better-than-average chance that this is legitimate. Frankly, we're digging what we're seeing thus far, but is it wrong to wish that even more panels were shown off? Update: And what's this? Yet another video has fallen into our laps, and it's featuring an HTC handset we've never seen before. Pocket PT is calling it the Hub (while tipster Eric suggests it may be the Mozart), suggesting that it's also running Sense atop Windows Phone 7 in the video after the break. When it rains, right? [Thanks, Sid and Pedro]
Amazon Kindle demo unit arrives in Best Buy, should populate shelves soon
Last week, Amazon decided to expand the B&M presence of its famed e-reader by throwing Best Buy the same bone already thrown to Staples and Target, and it looks as if "this fall" is about to get going. We've received word that demo units are already popping up in Best Buy locations (for running advertorial loops to entice you and yours, we're surmising), and mere mortals should be able to procure them starting next week. We suspect the $139 Wi-Fi and $189 3G model will both be making their yellow-tag debut, and we fully expect this ad right here to be looped ad naseum in whatever aisle BB decides to slot these in.
Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4
Mmm, delicious. That's the feeling we're left with after being inundated with yet another round of AT&T leaks, this time giving us insight at a few flagship devices on tap for the carrier's holiday push. First up is the Galaxy Tab -- an Android 2.2-based tablet that we had previously heard rumored for AT&T's airwaves. Thanks to a branded snapshot from the carrier's internals, we can confirm that the Tab will indeed be sold on Ma Bell, and it (along with three other new Android devices) will ship "prior to December." Moving on, we've got even more confirmation that the Samsung Cetus (i917) will be one of the operator's first Windows Phone 7 devices, and it looks as if a heretofore unheard of Samsung Focus and HTC Surround will be joining it. Better still, we've got it on good authority that three other WP7 handsets will be splashing down alongside those others in time for the holidays. As for the remaining BlackBerry loyalists, AT&T will be tempting you with a trio of limited run Torch motifs coming in "mid to late November," with an all-white version, red / black model and olive colored edition on tap. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, naturally. %Gallery-102059%
Rumored T-Mobile doc pegs myTouch HD with front-facing camera, screen sharing, and 'dual processor'
Now that T-Mobile's got its G2 slider out in the open, the cosmic universe reckons it's time to look towards the next HSPA+ device -- and the next iteration of the Android-laden myTouch series. We've seen alleged pics of the myTouch HD before, and now TmoNews has what it claims is an internal document from the carrier boasting some of the key features of the device. Sure, it could be all for naught, but let's hear this one out. According to the alleged paper, the myTouch HD runs on "America's largest 4G network" (that's gonna make some eyes roll) and has a 3.8-inch screen, Swype, 4GB internal space, a bundled 8GB SD card, a five megapixel rear camera, and a VGA camera on the front for video chat over Qik or Yahoo Messenger. There's also talk of screen sharing for pictures and video onto a HDTV, but that could be something as simple as HDMI output. Something tells us the 1GHz "dual processor" is more than likely a typo that's meant to say dual-core, à la the Snapdragon chips, but when you're dealing in the world of the unconfirmed, we suppose anything's possible.
Acer's dualscreen laptop leaks out with Core i5 CPU?
We knew dualscreen laptops were the future after our Toshiba Libretto review, but unfortunately for Toshiba theirs was a future attempted too soon. Acer, however, is apparently testing a rig that might be powerful enough to do the trick -- pictures bequeathed to Tech Review Source purportedly show a 2.67GHz Intel Core i5 processor (likely a Core i5-580M) with dual fifteen-inch multitouch screens, making both the Libretto and MSI's 7-incher look positively dated by comparison. Sadly, the publication's source says this device is "still slow and buggy," so retail availability is probably a long while off, but now you can tell your friends you too saw the future and it looked reasonably good. Peep a couple more shots of the laptop at our source link while you wait for a frameless version to pop out.
Internet Explorer 9 Beta sees video demo, hits 95/100 on Acid3 test
Looks as if the Internet Explorer 9 Beta has now leaked on video, and -- surprise, surprise -- it looks exactly like Internet Explorer! If you were out hoping for a major overhaul, it looks as if you'll need to pick a new wish to cross your fingers for. Design wise, the IE9 beta shown in the video past the break is no drastic departure from IE8, though the internals should obviously be revamped quite a bit. The rest of the world is still awaiting that September 15th launch date, but you and your impatient soul can watch an early build peak at 95/100 (so close!) on the Acid3 test with just a couple of clicks. Enjoy! [Thanks, pradeep]
Exclusive: Motorola MB520 'Kobe' boasts a Droid X-esque UI, AT&T affinity
What is Motorola Kobe? The device, also known by its model number MB520, seems to be popping up on a couple of certification websites. UPnP Forum certified it on June 16, 2010 (listed as "Kobe ATT"), and additionally on July 8th the smartphone quietly got a thumbs up from the WiFi Alliance for single band (2.4GHz) 802.11b/g/n. Of course, an IEEE standard does not a phone make, and so we've been in touch with a trusted source who's provided us with specifications of the device, as well as screencaps of some benchmarks results and the all-important About Phone page. The Kobe is a slate-style smartphone currently featuring Android 2.1 with a Motoblur skin reminiscent of Droid 2 / Droid X's UI. We're told it has a 3.5-inch LCD with 480 x 854 resolution, a 800MHz TI OMAP processor (either 3440 or an underclocked 3630), PowerVR SGX 530 GPU, 512MB RAM, 2GB internal storage and a bundled 2GB microSD card, and a 3 megapixel camera (without flash). It currently comes loaded with Swype, Vlingo, and DNLA support. We gotta say, camera notwithstanding, this sounds like a pretty appealing addition to AT&T's growing Android lineup. Hit up the gallery below for benchmark scores. %Gallery-100051%
Canon's PowerShot G12 leaks out, promises HD video mode
To say that Canon's PowerShot G11 is growing long in the tooth would be understating things rather dramatically, and with Photokina just a few weeks away, now's as good a time as any to launch a prominent new camera into the world. In fact, Canon just got finished outing a trio of point-and-shoot models, but it seems that Cnet Asia didn't get the memo that a full foursome wouldn't be introduced. The publication's original writeup on the company's new cameras featured a number of G12 mentions throughout the text, and a full-on specifications chart was captured above. If all this is to be believed, we're looking at a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x optical zoom, 2.8-inch tilt-and-swivel LCD, "HD-quality" video recording, optical image stabilization and an inbuilt HDR mode, topped off with a pinch of "sheesh, finally!" Obviously, there's no mention of a price or expected launch date, but something tells us that'll change dramatically before we touch down in Köln.
Sansa Fuze+ leaks out with slotRadio support, 24 hours of battery life
And here we thought SanDisk had up and buried its once-thriving Sansa PMP line. After all -- it was this company's CEO that said "you can't out-iPod the iPod." For whatever reason, it looks as if the memory mainstay is about to try its hand once more in the saturated media player market, with a Sansa Fuze+ rumored for release in the near term. As you can clearly see above, there won't be anything too special about the Fuze+, though the 2.4-inch QVGA display, capacitive touch controls and inbuilt FM tuner are certainly appreciated. It'll ship in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB flavors, supporting the usual file formats (AAC, MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, Audible, MPEG4, H.264, WMV, etc.) and offering a rechargeable battery good for 24 hours on the audio side and 5 hours on the video side. USB 2.0 support is thrown in, as is the absolutely riveting confirmation that it'll be "ready for slotRadio and slotMusic memory cards." Knowing that, we aren't so sure if our minds can take the wait till September 12th, but we'll do our best.
Archos 32 Internet "Tablet" hits the FCC, pictures and manual in tow
It was just last week the Android-powered Archos 32 spontaneously burst into existence with a premature sale, and thanks to the FCC we can say today that we also know what it looks like. As you can see in the picture above, the "minidroid" appears to be a completely capacitive affair, with dedicated buttons and directional controls surrounding that 3.2-inch screen. The full filing also reveals built-in GPS, a 3.5mm headphone jack and Archos' trademark kickstand alongside Bluetooth and WiFi. While it does have a microphone as originally reported, there's strangely no mention of a camera in the user's manual, which actually suggests that circle on the back of the device may be the integrated speaker. (Here's hoping we're proven wrong.) On the connectivity front, ARCHOS seems to have the usual host of accessories planned including a 720p-capable DVR dock, but frustratingly the unit also requires a proprietary connector to transfer data and charge. Should the original leak be accurate, expect to see this one at e-tailers in the coming months for a penny under $150, an excellent price should the build quality equal the company's codec support. %Gallery-99174%
Best Buy pegs Droid 2 at $199 with 2-year activation, $599 without (updated)
It's rather astounding to believe we've come this far without Verizon or Motorola so much as recognizing the Droid 2's existence, but with leaks like this on a weekly basis who needs traditional marketing? Astute reader Greg from North Carolina tells us his local Best Buy has those leaked dummy units out on shelves, and lo and behold, there's a set of price tags right next to them. As originally rumored, the phone will launch at $199 with carrier subsidy and $599 should you choose to cart it home without a plan in tow. Still no solid confirmation of that August 12 release date, but at this rate we expect the handset may sell out before Verizon's PR team breathes a word. Spot the full image after the break. Update: On a related note, the original Droid is now "out of stock" on Verizon's website. Update 2: Oh what the hell, dropped in an official "coming soon" Droid 2 advertising supplement making its way into newspapers. [Thanks, Greg and Jeremy C.]
HTC Desire HD spotted in the wild with EVO-like form factor, Android 2.2 on board?
Well, would you look at that -- it's an Android 2.2 handset with a giant screen, HTC watermark and plenty of similarities to (though apparently no front-facing camera like) the EVO 4G. Could this be the 4.3-inch, 1GHz HTC Desire HD? That's what a Hong Kong forum claims, and we've no doubt we'll have pseudo-confirmation at some point soon given how quickly and thoroughly handsets are leaking out these days.
